Guard Dog

no disagreement. we were responding to zor's observation 'bout thinking obama has done better than mccain or romney would have. measure obama against the imagined evils of folks who failed to become President? historians rare indulge in such fantasies, and for good reason. it struck us as more than a bit silly to judge obama based on how he stands up to zor's fantasies o' romney/mccain/other incompetence. HA! Good Fun! Completely agree. It really is a subject for speculative historical fiction when you get into "what if this happened". Makes for interesting reading sometimes like Newt Gingrich's novel on what the world would be like if the CSA won the US Civil War. Historical analysis really rests on what did happen. There is no way to know what the world would look like if Romney, McCain, Kerry, Gore, etc would have won. Honestly in terms of foreign policy I believe the difference would really be on of degree rather than something radically different. 9-11 was still going to happen and the events that set in motion would probably have played out the same. With the exception of Iraq I guess.

It is WAY too early to try and determine Obama's place in history. Heck we are only now beginning to get a real idea of what Clintons legacy will be. 15-20 years down the road we'll have some perspective on events he set in motion or things he chose not to do. I will say that in terms of individual liberty and personal freedom he is one of the worst. He has absolutely no respect or regard for either and is very much in favor of a heavy handed authoritarian government. However that is a discussion for another thread.

The older I get the more I realize that James Monroe was a smarter man than history gives him credit for and the Libertarian philosophy is not only right but imperative. Is there anyone here that wouldn't go back in time to 2003 and undo all of this? Is there anyone here who gladly would not trade Saddam Hussien for this mess?

Yep and if they walk in through that "Golden Door" they are welcomed as brothers and sisters. It's when the skip the golden door and break in through the window, then once in insist on ownership of the house, that we have a problem.

It's complicated in that the actual motives, ends sought, and means taken are not in line with the talking points or the official media story. But it seldom is. The only honest moment in a politicians life is when he admits he's lying.

Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville. This mans observations are just brilliant. I find it hard to believe he wrote this in 1832.

It's a complicated issue. If you want to legally come to the US and become a citizen it's actually pretty easy to do. If you want to be a citizen and come here illegally then what you are really doing is breaking our laws just so you can promise to obey them. It's like lying about yourself just to get someone to marry you. But the truth is the majority of the folks streaming across the southern border have no desire to become citizens, learn the language and culture and assimilate. They are coming for two things, work or welfare. We can effectively take away both by just enforcing existing laws. No fuel no fire. However that will not happen. The current administrations has instructed ICE, INS, Border Patrol, etc. specifically NOT to enforce the law and send these folks back because they are thinking amnesty and millions of new welfare dependent democrat voters. It is not about the good of the country or even the well being of the immigrants. It is all about, and only about winning future elections, turning red states blue, and building a new permanent underclass to be exploited to keep them in power.

The Rays just traded the best LHP in the game and got back (drumroll please...) A Tigers gym bag with a broken strap, 6 cans of pine tar, and the contents of Dave Dombrowski's office waste basket. Actually they got back a borderline starter whose best upside is major league mediocrity, a AAA infielder with an underwhelming .214 batting average in his few major league appearances, and an 18 year old nobody whose hitting .267 in low A league. Friedman said they would have to be blown away to make a trade. Apparently that doesn't take much. I'm trying to take this in stride. I understand the realities of the Rays position and the need to trade players. BUT FOR GOD'S F-----G SAKE IF YOU ARE TRADING A VALUABLE COMMIDITY DOESN'T IT MAKE SENSE TO GET SOMETHING VALUABLE IN RETURN? There are better infielders on the Rays AAA club than Franklin. What the hell Friedman? Were you drunk last night? That al least I could understand. Did Dombrowski point a gun at your head? PLEASE TELL ME THE GM EVERYONE PRAISES AS SO SMART DID NOT MAKE SUCH A STUPID EXCHANGE AS THIS? Apparently the bar for being called smart isn't as high as it should be.

Your wife set it up as an elaborate test of faithfulness. LOL That is something my first wife would have done.

I remember a great line from the movie "Kingdom of Heaven", an enjoyable if not terribly accurate account of the Saracen recapture of Jerusalem. When the two main characters Balin and Saladin were discussing terms of surrender Balian promised to destroy the city rather than give it up. Saladin quips "I wonder if it would not be better if you did" Obviously that never happened in real life, but it is a true sentiment.

I helped a VERY attractive lady with a dead battery in her car yesterday. She offered to take me to dinner as a way to say thanks. WTF? Why does this happen AFTER I get married? Of course I politely declined.

http://t.foxsports.msn.com/nba/luol-deng-agrees-to-2-year-dollar20-million-deal-with-miami-heat So, I guess one way to look at it is the Heat traded Lebron to Cleveland for Deng and cash considerations.

I hate Grant Balfour. Unreliable sumbitch.

Jeez, don't you guys EVER get tired of fantasy?

I received a call yesterday about extending my employment contract. We have an e-meeting to discuss it on Monday. I'm inclined to accept whatever they offer. This working from home has ruined me for going to an office every day!

Yup, having lived down there during the Alonzo Mourning years, this hits the nail square on the head. south Florida sports fans are notoriously disloyal. The only exception is the NHLs Panthers. The do have a dedicated, albeit small, following despite all the misery the last 14 years.

I think he is a Heat lifer anyway. He'll get more from them than anyone else because suddenly they are going to have attendance problems. The Miami sports fans are VERY fickle about supporting teams that fall on hard times. Not a lot of loyalty there. Keeping Wade in house will help even if his contributions are more about perception than reality these days.

Some big moves in the west. Suddenly it seems like the Grizz are standing still.

It's official, Lebron is going home. He's signing with the Cavs. That means Bosch will split for Houston. Is it ok to top hating the Heat now? Their future looks pretty bleak. And their first round draft selection looks pretty dumb now. On that note, will the owner of the Cavs apologize for that nasty letter calling James a coward 4 years ago.

Now reading Seasons in Hell: With Billy Martin, Whitey Herzog and "The Worst Baseball Team in History"-the 1973-1975 Texas Rangers. Very well written!

You would need some serious upgrades to the RV anyway. Namely flotation pontoons and outboard engine!

Kansas... I spent a week there one night. A Merv Griffin tribute!

Well it's official. If I had to choose between going with Hurlshot on his trip or Woldan, I'd have to say Woldan. Those pics are incredible!

Leaving today Knoxville for work. I love Knoxville!

You chose the wrong profession. After 20 years of working around RF transmitters, Radar to begin with, microwave radio after that, then Cellular, then WiFi & WiMax, I got a non-surgical vasectomy for free!